Driver accused of crash that killed model Elise Hodder in Melbourne released on bail

A man who police allege ran down a model moments after she left a party in Melbourne’s inner east attended an illegal rave before the fatal collision, a court has been told.

Connor Mathiasson, 23, appeared before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday charged with culpable driving causing death and dangerous driving causing death.

Police allege Mr Mathiasson struck Elise Hodder and two others while he was trying to reverse in a carpark at Sir Zelman Cowen Park in Kooyong shortly after 1am on Sunday.

The 24-year-old was trapped under the car and died at the scene.

Another female, aged 26, was rushed to Alfred Hospital for emergency surgery, while another was uninjured.

In granting bail, magistrate Donna Bakos said the young man’s father had offered a $100,000 guarantee and police agreed that risks could be mitigated.

“The applicant (Mr Mathiasson) has no relevant prior criminal history, no traffic offences, no untoward bail history,” Ms Bakos told the court.

“He has a strong and supportive family that he can live with and a significant guarantee is offered (as well as) bail conditions.”

Under conditions of his release, Mr Mathiasson will forfeit his passport, is barred from getting behind the wheel and will comply with treatment programs.

Ms Bakos said police submitted the case against Mr Mathiasson was “strong, and upon conviction, the likely sentence is a lengthy term of imprisonment”.

“The applicant made the decision to drive to the rave party. He made the decision to drink and take drugs, and these decisions have had consequences,” police said.

In their application, police admitted there were “tribal issues” with their case, namely that there were differing accounts from two passengers in Mr Mathiasson’s car at the time of the incident.

Ms Bakos told the court that Mr Mathiasson was allegedly leaving an illegal rave when he “accelerated heavily” while reversing his 2009 Holden Commodore.

“Due to the steering input, the Holden has struck a Haval SUV parked next to it (and) continued to travel in reverse and struck a pedestrian,” Ms Bakos said.

“This person suffered minor injuries. Witnesses in the area have then yelled to the applicant that he had struck a pedestrian.

“(Mr Mathiasson) has accelerated heavily, driving the Holden forward (and) has then struck two further pedestrians before again colliding with the Haval.

At the time of the collision, public order response police were about 100m away having attended the area following reports of the illegal rave.

Mr Mathiasson allegedly returned a positive reading at the scene for cannabis and a blood alcohol reading of 0.178g.

The court was told Mr Mathiasson had used cannabis to address undiagnosed mental health issues and had “agreed to accept all treatment recommended to him”.

“The applicant showed genuine insight into his treatment needs and … has expressed his willingness to comply with the program’s requirements,” Ms Bakos said.

She told the court that after hearing evidence from his father she was confident Mr Mathiasson was being released into the care of someone “honest and insightful”.

“He’s willing to carry a lot of responsibility … he has offered a significant guarantee, his home, and his time and effort to supervise the applicant,” she said.

The 23-year-old was also charged with negligent driving causing serious injury and driving without a licence or permit. He has not entered any pleas.

The court was told Mr Mathiasson had been previously charged with wilful damage but was sentenced without conviction in October 2023.

He will return before the court next year on February 17.